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Project Noah Nature School
Holothuria mexicans
Like the sea star, the spiny skinned sea cucumber is equipped with tube feet, located on its underside, that allow it to slowly (3 inches/hour) move along the ocean floor sucking up sand and debris. Incredibly, over the span of a year, this creature can vacuum up to 200 pounds of sand! In addition to ingesting sand, the sea cucumber primarily feeds on sea grass and algae. To grab onto food, the sea cucumber produces mucus, which causes sand and plant debris to stick to its body. At that point, the creature brings its tube feet to its mouth and sucks off the food. These invertebrates play an important role in filtering sediments and recycling nutrients back into the food web.
Seal Cay, Belize
Spotted on Oct 12, 2013
Submitted on Nov 15, 2013
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